How to Grow Potato

Beginner-Friendly

Solanum tuberosum

A cool-season tuber crop. Grows well in raised beds and containers. Hill soil around stems as they grow to increase yield.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity

70–150 days

typical

Per Square Foot

Plant Spacing

30 cm / 12"

Sun

6+ hours

Water

1.0" / 25 mm

Fertilization

moderate feeder

Growing Notes

Plant seed potatoes 2–4 weeks before last frost. Hill soil around stems when 15 cm tall. Harvest after foliage dies back.

Varieties & Cultivars

13 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Blue/Purple

(3)

Adirondack Blue

75–90 days Open-Pollinated

moist waxy texture; colour persists cooked

Height: 18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 4.6 oz (130 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

All Blue

80–100 days Open-Pollinated

moist waxy texture; colour holds when cooked; high anthocyanin content; mid-season; stores well; makes striking purple mashed potatoes

Height: 18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 4.6 oz (130 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Purple Majesty

75–90 days Open-Pollinated

colour holds when cooked; mid-season

Height: 18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 4.6 oz (130 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Irish fingerling

(1)

Isle of Skerry

100–120 days Open-Pollinated

golden skin white flesh; nutty flavour; excellent roasted; heirloom since 1700s

Height: 4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 4–9
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Japanese variety

(1)

Kurume Purple

100–120 days Open-Pollinated

rich earthy flavour; nutritious anthocyanin content; striking appearance

Height: 8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 4–9
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 0 years

Red

(2)

Red Norland

70–80 days Open-Pollinated

white waxy flesh; good for boiling

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 5.3 oz (150 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Red Pontiac

80–100 days Open-Pollinated

good for boiling; stores well

Height: 18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 6.0 oz (170 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Red-skinned waxy potato

(1)

Red LaSoda

90–110 days Open-Pollinated

holds shape when cooked; good for salads and boiling; reliable garden variety

Height: 8–12" (20–30 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 0 years

Yellow

(5)

Fingerling French

90–110 days Open-Pollinated

waxy yellow flesh; gourmet quality; low yield per plant

Height: 15–18" (38–46 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 2.1 oz (60 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

German Butterball

100–130 days Open-Pollinated

excellent keeper; high yield

Height: 18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 7.1 oz (200 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Kennebec

85–95 days Open-Pollinated

high yielding; late blight resistant; great for frying

Height: 24–36" (61–91 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 8.8 oz (250 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Russet Burbank

95–120 days Open-Pollinated

dry flaky white flesh; classic baker

Height: 24–36" (61–91 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 9.9 oz (280 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Yukon Gold

70–90 days Open-Pollinated

buttery flavour; excellent for mashing and roasting

Height: 18–24" (46–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 6.0 oz (170 g)
Support: none
Harvest: once
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: moderate
Seed viability: 0 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside potato, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Garlic : Garlic deters potato beetles and fungal diseases

Cilantro : Cilantro repels potato beetles

Radish : Radishes planted around potatoes deter flea beetles

Peas : Peas fix nitrogen for potatoes

Basil : Basil repels potato beetles and aphids

Beans : Beans repel Colorado potato beetles

Keep Apart

Pumpkin : Both heavy feeders susceptible to overlapping fungal diseases

Squash : Squash may promote potato blight

Cucumber : Both susceptible to blight; cucumbers promote potato scab

Sweet Potato : Both tuber crops share soil diseases and pests

Strawberry : Both attract verticillium wilt; potatoes harbour root diseases that spread to strawberries

Zucchini : Zucchini may promote potato blight

Watermelon : Both susceptible to similar fungal diseases and compete for nutrients

Tomato : Same family (Solanaceae); share late blight and pests

Sunflower : Sunflower allelopathic compounds inhibit potato growth

Melon : Both susceptible to similar fungal diseases and compete for nutrients

Turnip : Both root crops competing for soil zone and sharing pest pressure

Asparagus : Potatoes compete for nutrients and harbour root diseases

Rhubarb : Potatoes and rhubarb compete for nutrients and may share soil-borne diseases

Square Foot Spacing

1 per sq ft

12" apart (entire square)

View full spacing chart →

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